Page 82 of Bad Little Bride

“We can hope.”

“If he does, we’ll have a new problem on our hands.”

I snap my head his way, and he closes his mouth, lifting his hands in the air.

I turn toward my bride, unsure of what I’ll find once I do, and admittedly, a bit surprised when she’s simply slunk back against the velvety booth, new wineglass already in hand.

She takes a small sip, everyone around the table silently staring between us, waiting to see what comes next.

Boston simply pops a brow before turning toward Damiano, the pretty blond boy whose file just so happens to be sitting on the top of the stack on my desk this very second.

“You were saying?” she deadpans.

My eyes narrow, slicing to his when a scoff leaves him, and he shakes his head.

“A bet’s a bet.” He reaches in his pocket, dropping a few blue bills on the tabletop.

I look to Boston in question, but her frown is now pointed behind me, so I follow her line of sight.

Bronx is laughing, spelling her name in the bloody mess on the floor with her bare toes, the cleaning crew standing back with mops and a rolling cart, waiting off to the side for her to…be done?

“The fuck is she doing?” Mino mutters.

“Painting.” It’s Hayze who answers.

When I glance his way, it’s as if he’s in some sort of trance, his eyes glued on the girl.

And Torin thinks he’ll make a good guardian.

I’m the one who scoffs this time, but Boston’s low laugh has my mouth clamping shut. I yank my head her way and thesatisfaction that came from putting Philip in his place goes out the window.

Why do men keep talking to her like they can?

Nicholas Galley is propped on the edge of the cushion near her, leaning over and whispering something that has her hiding her smile in her glass.

It’s a wide smile, one that has the edges of her green eyes curving, making her even more alluring. She’s the most exquisite thing I’ve ever seen.

It’s also as equally excruciating as it is infuriating.

She’s mine, so why the fuck is she smiling at another man?

I dart forward, but as if sensing me coming, her leg shoots out, pointed straight at me, her toe pressing right into my cock as she hauls her glass back. “I don’t think so.” She glares.

I lean as forward as I’m able with her knee locked straight, running the tips of my fingers up the length of her calf, my mouth watering at the silkiness of her skin. Fuck, I’m dying to feel her all over. By the way her chest rises, she wants the same.

“Are you protecting him,fiancée?”

“She’s not,” Nicholas rushes, but we both ignore him.

“What will you do if I say yes?” she dares, playing along in this little “stoke the fire” game we’ve found ourselves in.

“Give your friend a lot bigger of a puddle to play in.”

Her eyes pop over to Bronx, coming back just as fast.

In the second, Nicholas jumps several spaces away. “I’m innocent.”

“Don’t try me, Galley. I wanted to put a bullet through your balls for looking her in the eye from four feet away, imagine what I want to do to you now that you’ve sat beside her.”